So you want to let your dog off leash

SO YOU WANT TO LET YOUR DOG OFF LEASH

One of my most favorite things is watching the joy in my dog when he’s able to run around off leash to sniff and explore. I go out of my way to find places where I can provide that option for him where it’s legal and where I am not infringing on others. I feel very strongly that it’s important for a dog’s mental health and consequently their behavioral health to have consistent opportunities for unrestricted freedom of movement outside of the confinement of a house, yard, or traditional fenced in dog park.

If you want to off leash your dog there are some things that you need to consider and have established before you take that leash off.

Your dog must have a proofed recall. A proofed recall means it will stand up against the most common distractions you’re likely to encounter which are other animals, other people, other dogs, and vehicles which include cars, bikes, skates, etc.

Your dog must have proofed impulse control. Proofed impulse control means that your dog will not pursue the most common distractions you’re likely to encounter such as other animals, other people, other dogs, and vehicles.

You must have good situational awareness. You need to pay attention to sightlines and you need to anticipate where potential distractions or dangers are so that you can direct your dog. If you can’t see around a corner or if you can’t see what’s on the other side of a hill, you need to call your dog to you and have them under control until your sightlines open up again.

You need to consider the limitations of those around you. Your dog may have the impulse control to stay away from other dogs, and your dog may be dog-friendly or dog-tolerant, but you don’t know what the threshold is for anyone else’s dog. If you get too close to another off leash dog you might draw them into you, they may not be friendly, and they may not have a recall.

If you get a puppy and you have off leash aspirations, you need to start working on off leash skills immediately and you need to be supremely cautious about going off leash when a dog is in their adolescence ( 6 months to 3 years ) even if you started them out early.

Consider your dogs L.E.G.S. Learning, environment, genetics, and self. If your dog has a long history of running away he may not be an off leash candidate do to his learning history (L). Certain environments are not appropriate for off leash with any dog such as neighborhoods and parks with leash laws (E). What are the genetic selections in your breed that might pose a problem for going off leash (G)? Are they roamers like guardian breeds? Are they bred for higher levels of prey drive like hounds and terriers? You need to consider your dog’s age and if they are mature enough to handle off leash, are they intact, are they healthy (S)?

You need to use long lines until you and your dog have developed the skills you need in order to work as a team off leash.

You must be courteous to others. Leash your dog if you see anyone in the area and do not allow your dog to approach them or their dog uninvited. It’s common courtesy to leash up if you are passing by other people with or without dogs themselves.

Realize that you are always going to be accepting a certain degree of risk when you choose to let your dog off leash. You can not control everything. Your dog may find things on the ground to roll in or eat. Your dog may be triggered by a squirrel and chase it into a road. Your dog may ignore your recall and approach an unfriendly dog. It doesn’t matter how well trained a dog is or by what method you’ve trained your dog, there are no guarantees with behavior.

Please off leash responsibly, failure to do so only hurts dogs. Opportunities for enrichment outdoors in nature are becoming fewer and harder to find for dogs. Laws are becoming more restrictive with parks not allowing dogs and even the length of your leash being limited. This will only lead to more and more behavioral issues in pet dogs as their world shrinks.

Jamie Flanders CDBC FPPE CFDM